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Board grants appeal to modify tree-planting plan at 2051 Third Street, gives DPW discretion
Summary
The Board of Appeals granted Raintree Partners' appeal to overturn a DPW denial and conditionally approved a revised tree-planting plan for 2051 Third Street, allowing either of two planting options and delegating discretion to DPW/PUC to adjust plans for utility conflicts.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on Feb. 8 granted an appeal from developer Raintree Partners and overturned a Department of Public Works denial of a tree-removal/planting permit for the project at 2051 Third Street.
Raintree partner Rick Price told the board the project, which received building approvals in 2014, encountered unexpected utility conflicts during the building-permit stage — including an AT&T fiber duct, a water main and junction boxes — that prevented the planting plan originally imposed by the board. Price presented two alternative planting options developed with DPW and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (PUC) staff and said the developer would pay any in-lieu fees for required trees that could not be planted.
Chris Buck, Urban Forester with Public Works, said the site can likely support four trees on the Illinois Street frontage but that Third Street is constrained by an existing water main; he described two feasible outcomes: relocation of a water main (which could allow two 36-inch-box trees along Third Street) or landscaped planting strips in lieu of some trees if utilities prevent in-ground planting. Buck noted city code requires a total of 11 trees for the project and that in-lieu fees apply for each required tree that cannot be planted.
Board members commended the collaboration among the developer, DPW and PUC. After discussion the board moved to grant the appeal, overturn DPW’s denial, and issue the permit conditioned on adoption of one of the two planting options presented by the applicant and departments, with DPW given discretion to make necessary adjustments should unforeseen conditions arise. The motion carried on recorded voice votes and the board instructed that the applicant’s submitted option diagrams be placed in the record.
The decision accepts the developer’s offer to implement the department-supported option the departments deem feasible and directs DPW and PUC to work with the applicant to finalize plantings, or to require landscaping/in-lieu payments where underground utilities prevent tree planting.
